Friday, February 25 was an exciting evening for polo.  The Eldorado Polo Club held their 9^th annual PTF benefit.  Fred and Li-Anne Mannix and Dick and Karlene Garber hosted cocktails and hors d'oeuvres at the Eldorado Country Club.  Many friends joined them for a gracious evening and participated in the live and silent auctions that generated nearly $200,000 to help the future of polo.  Over $137,000 was raised at the event.  Out of that, nearly $65,000 was eligible for the Guardians of the Game campaign to fund the Head Umpire Instructor’s position which will be matched by the Oxley Foundation. 

The big surprise of the evening was when PTF President Gene Burk presented Karlene Garber the PTF Distinguished Benefactor Award.  She thanked the PTF, and the guests who have been such loyal supporters of the PTF.  She highlighted that without the support of her wonderful husband Dick none of her efforts on behalf of polo would be possible.  The Garbers both received a much deserved rousing ovation.

Ryan Renker and Remington Gianico began the evening by sharing their love of polo, and how they’ve benefited from PTF junior polo programs.  Prior to speaking they gave plaques to last years sponsors of the junior program at the Eldorado Polo Club.

Paul vonGontard, Alex Jacoy, Bill Devane and Tony Gregg expertly orchestrated the evening as auctioneers.  They cajoled their friends and relatives to purchase the amazing array of items the benefit committee had procured.  This year the committee, consisting of Chrys Beal, Lynda Beal, Paige Beard, Geri Bidwell, Leslie Bissett, Karlene Garber, Michele Garber, Gloria Holden, Janet Ludwig, Li-Anne Mannix, Christine Neumann, Clarisa Ru, Eileen Ryan, Geannie Sheller, Margot vonGontard, Deb Wolstenholme, and their husbands, outdid themselves.  The “best of the best” was on the auction block. 

There were eleven unique trips available including a five star trip to Australia given by Peter & Patricia Yunghunns & James & Susan Ashton, Carty and Lynda Beal’s Texana  Ranch, Breeders Cup box seats from Jack Oxley plus hotel donated by Luis Rinaldini, and Santa Fe.  Gene and Jerry Burk donated a stay at their Aspen home including a hunt weekend which the vonGontards were delighted to win.  Ronnie and Eric Hoffman offered a weekend of treasures from the German House of Hesse at the Portland Museum plus all the festivities including socializing with German royalty. Susan Stovall gave a visit at her family’s historic Parton Ranch in Toppenish, Washington.   Glen and Gloria Holden will be guests of Fred and Li-Anne Mannix for the exciting Calgary Stampede.  Ian and Daphne Angus are hosting David and Leslie Bissett on their boat for a tour of the 1000 Islands.

Beautiful jewelry was at the top of many buyers lists.  Kelly & Chrys Beal purchased a Denise Roberge?  custom  pendant. Gloria Wolfendon is giving Karlene Garber’s diamond earrings to her niece. Henry Trione is surprising his favorite lady with  a glorious FIP pin.  Tiffany & Co. donated a man’s watch that Dick Garber purchased.

A special moment of the evening was Fred Mannix bidding against John Simpson (a top Canadian equestrian) and Rege Ludwig for the opportunity to ride Geri Bidwell’s horse ‘Smokejumper’ in the HITS Indio horseshow with Grand Prix rider Hap Hansen as their personal coach.  Vanessa Mannix will enjoy her dad’s determination and wonderful generosity. 

Wesley and Clarisa Ru provided lovely parting gifts for all the participants in the auction, and the PTF thanks all of you who helped in this year’s fundraiser.  The money raised is greatly needed to carry on the many programs of the PTF.  Every donation no matter how large or small is much appreciated.   

Next year make plans to be in Indian Wells for the 10^th annual fundraiser on Friday, February 24^th.   It’s sure to be a lot of fun! 

The Polo Training Foundation would like to thank all the generous donors who made this event a spectacular success.  We greatly appreciate your contributions.  Please forgive us if your name has been inadvertently omitted.

Lynn Arsenault

James and Susan Ashton

Baccarat Palm Desert

Dr. and Mrs. Amin Badr-el-Din

Ian & Daphne Angus

*Carty and Lynda Beal

*Kelly and Chrys Beal

*Paige Beard

*Gerry & Geri Bidwell

The Bidwell Family

*David & Leslie Bissett

Andrew Bossom

Sherry Boyd

Bob Bradley

Graham Bray

The Breeders’ Cup Championships

Gratia Brown

Gene & Jerry Burk

*Andy & Kim Busch

Calgary Polo Club

Cam Clark Ford Calgary

Canadian Polo Association

Carla, Palm Desert

Harry & Judy Collins

The Crown Towers Resort Melbourne

Bud & Geri Dardi

*Bill Devane

Madelyn DeVore

Suzy Dion

Ed & Maureen Eberts

El Questro, Australia

Eldorado Polo Club

Ellie’s Designs, Palm Desert

Empire Polo Club

Estancia Don Manuel Polo Facility, Argentina

*Dick & Karlene Garber

Dennis & Joanne Geiler

The Golden Falcons

Richard & Nancy Gooding

Elizabeth Goodwin

Kathy Gorsuch

Gotham Bar and Grill, NYC

Michael Greenlee

*Tony Gregg

Alex Haagen

Hap Hansen

Eric & Ronnie Hoffman

*Amb. Glen & Gloria Holden

Nina Holt

Doug Hoskins

Hyatt Regency Calgary

*Alex & Susan Jacoy

Mack & Madelyn Jason

Donna Josey

Jeff Kazmark

Sean Keys

Carla Kirkeby

Bolko & Rocio Kissling

*Kim Kumpart

La Chaumiere Restaurant, Calgary

Robert Langholz

Kim Larsen

Larsens Golf Cars

John Leary

Corky & Kathy Linfoot

*Rege & Janet Ludwig

*Fred & Li-Anne Mannix

Millamolong Polo Club, Australia

Millamolong Station, Australia

Dr. Lester Neinhuis

Ursala Nesbitt

*Christian & Christine Neumann

Dr. C.H. Newman

Bill Nolan

Sonja Norgaard

John C. Oxley

Geoff & Ann Palmer

Julie Parsonage

Parton Ranch

Polo Canada

Alfred Portale

Portland Art Museum

PTF Canada

Luis Rinaldini

Denise Robergé

Denise Robergé Art Gallery

Carine Roberts

Rich and Jan Roenisch

*Wesley & Clarisa Ru

Randy and Annie Russell

*Eileen Ryan

Saks Fifth Avenue, Palm Desert

Joyce Shampeny

*Michael & Geannie Sheller

Lauren Sherry

Ellie Steinfeld

*Susan Stovall

Woody Stuart

TSE Cashmere

Texana Ranch

Tiffany & Co., Palm Desert

Henry Trione

Mike & Claudia Uretz

Karin P. Vogler

Colleen Vogt

*Paul & Margot vonGontard

Mike Ward

Western Badge & Trophy

WestJet Airlines

White Swan Polo Club

Bill & Gloria Wolfenden

*Derek & Deborah Wolstenholme

Peter & Patricia Yunghan

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